Carrier for containers



June 3, 1952 Filed April 12. 1949 M. W. KEITH CARRIER FOR CONTAINERS 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

By fiafg arll i. Ia'ik June 3, 1952 M. w. KEITH 2,598,920

CARRIER FOR CONTAINERS Filed April 12. 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

I flafg are/ l7. [017/0 Patented June 3, 1952 I UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to carriers for bottles, cans, and like articles and more particularly to such carriers which may be formed from paper stock or other foldable sheet material.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a collapsible carrier adapted to contain a plurality of bottles side by side and having separators provided from the material of the carrier for preventing adjacent bottles from coming into contact with each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a form of collapsible carrier for containing a plurality of bottles which is made from a single blank of flexible sheet material suitably creased and cut for providing individual pockets for individual bottles and which is adapted to have assembled therewith a handle, or handles, capable of easy association with the carrier, and the carrier and handles being serviceable for prolonged and repetitious use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible carrier so constructed and arranged as to enable ready attachment of a handle thereto and having provisions cooperating between the carrier and the handle to centrally balance the carrier with respect to the handle and to hold the carrier and the handle in a stable relationship with respect to each other when the carrier is suspended from the handle.

Another object is to provide a carrier for several bottles which is formed from a single piece of stock material which is cut and creased on lines of fold to form individual pockets for the bottles and which is provided with a handle adapted to be slid with respect to the carrier to extend the handle in gripping position above the tops of the bottles contained in the carrier and to be slid downwardly below the tops of the bottles without the possibility of any conflict between the handle and the carrier, irrespective of the number of times the handle is displaced or the carrier is used.

Another object is to provide a carrier which may be readily assembled by folding a prepared blank along lines of fold and to which a slidable handle may be fitted and contained in assembled relation with the carrier without requiring any special fastening members.

Another object is to provide a slidable handle for a collapsible carrier, which is so related with respect to the carrier as to restrict the permissible movement of the handle within a line of travel and to provide several points of support between the handle and the carrier at the limit of the outward motion of the handle from the carrier,

whereby the handle is firmly connected to the carrier when the carrier is suspended therefrom.

Other objects of the present invention will be hereinafter set forth in the accompanying specification and claims and demonstrated by the drawings which show by way of illustration a preferred embodiment of the principle of the invention and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a prepared blank ready for folding to form the carrier;

Fig. 2 is a handle cut from stock material, such as paperboard;

sections folded;

Fig. 4 illustrates the manner of mounting a handle;

Fig. 5 shows an advance step of the manner of mounting the handle;

Fig. 6 illustrates the relationship of the handle just prior to its final attachment;

Fig. 7 illustrates one compartment of the carrier with the side walls partially collapsed;

Fig. 8 illustrates one compartment of the carrier with the side walls fully distended, as when the carrier is ready for use;

Fig. 9 illustrates the complete carrier in folded condition;

Fig..10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the carrier on line l0l 0 of Fig. ,11;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section on different planes through the carrier;

Fig. 12 is a modified form of handle; and

Fig. 13 is a view showing the attached relationship of the modified handle to the same carrier.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly Fig. l, the carrier includes a blank l0 which may be cut from light weight paperboard, heavy paper or similar material; The blank consists of a bottom panel II which is divided into half sections by a crease line I2 and which has attached along a crease line l3 a side wall section [4. A similar wall section I5 is attached to the opposite edge of the bottom panel along the crease line l6. Each of the side wall sections is similarly cut and creased, and in the interest of brevity and clarity only one of these side wall sections will be specifically described, but it will be understood that corresponding portions of the other side section are similarly cut and creased. The side wall section l4 comprises a front panel I! joined to an upper rear section l8 by aplurality of inclined strips 19, 29 and 2|. A crease line 22 separates an end wall panel 23 from the front panel. I 1', and

a flap 24 adjoins the end wall panel-2'3 along a" 1 crease line 25. The other end of the front panel and 3|, which are joined, respectively, to the rear panel along crease lines 32 and 33. The flaps 3t .and 3i cooperate individually with the inclined strips 20 and 2|, respectively, when the blanlt is folded (as shown in'Fig; 3), forproviding dividing walls"-be'tween-'articles carried in the container, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

As best illustrated inFig. l, the front end of the inclined strip I9 connects with the end-panel-25 along the crease line 21, and its rear end connects with the upper rear section [8 along the crease u line 34. The inclined strip 20 connects "with the front panel I! along the crease line 35"a'rid with" the upper rear section i8 along the crease linef 36. The inclined strip 2 f is similarly connected with the frontpaneld'l along thecrease line 31 andwi;th. ztheupper rear section 1 8 along the crease-line.'38. -Folds alongthe crease; lines 2'1,

35 and-31are made in one direction, andfolds alonge thezcrease :lines '34, 35 and 38 are made in the oppositedirection when thecarrier-isformed. Whenthe blankis cut" it isacut through-along lines 39,411.41 and- 42 to relieve the individualinclined strip 20, and similar linesare cut for the.

inclined strips I9 and 2|. Each of. the flaps eil and 3| is formed bycutting through the-blanh along 1ines.43 44 and-45.- I

When the blank has been fully prepared .by cutting and by scoring such lines asare to form crease lines, it is ready to be formedinto acarrier.. The end vpanelilt and rear panel 29 are folded onto the front panel I! and the endpanel 23lby..folding..-along.thev crease. line. 21 .as -illustrated'ih Fig; 3. The flap 24 is then folded along the. crease line 25 and: caused to'. overlap the rear surface of the backipanel 29.

the flap 24i'slalso fastened to the back panel '29. Fastening maylbe accomplished by means of spots of glue. llfi'and 41 (Fig-.1 )f which face. front and.

rear surfaces of the backpanel 29, respectively, when the-fiap 24 is folded, Fig. v3,7cr bystapling. The inclined strip I9 may be attached to the end panel. 26. by a spot of glue and the inclined strips29 and 2 I are attached, respectively,.to the uppenends of the flapstflfand 3! by spots of glue 49am '5U"'(FIg. 1). Any other ,suitable'means'for fastening the-several members together may be employed. L

Atfthissta'geof theassembl'y it is apparent that the frjont rear and end panels of-each side wall section.(|4', l,5)f Will constitute a single compartmentiwhnopposite. panels are expanded from each fotheri The wall section I is illustrated as being partlyeXpanded'inFig. 3, and-the wall sectienfld is illustrated as being partly expanded in V Fig; '7 "and as being fully expanded infFi'g. .8. Sinbe"1thefiaps 39'and' '3i are fastenedlto the inclined strips 2liand' 21, "respectively, they will hirigaloiigcreas lines SZT'Iand 33, respectively, 65

andform partitions or separators, which together witlftlfeinclined strips '25} and 2| divide the'compartment into individual article receiving pock- 8138111 In the carrier'illustrated inthe drawings,

thebackipaneltothe upper edges of the inclined stripsf whib'hi preferably lie inithe region of' the The upper rear section. l8'is fastened tothe .back'panel 29 and upper portions of the articles to be contained in the pockets which could come into contact with each other. lhe widths of the flaps 3B and 3! need be sufficient only to prevent contacting of the articles in adjacent pockets. Each pocket is square in plan and when the carrier is designed for containing bottles the flaps should be substantially equal to or greater than the diameter of a bottle to be contained. This is clearly illustrated in Fig. 11', in which the"cireles"el, 52 and 53- approximately indicate the diametersof articles contained in individual pockets. The displabement of the flap 3! from the back panel leaves an-area 5d of the back panel which sepa- "rates the article 52 from the article 53, and similar areas are located in the back panels to separate the articles inadjacent pockets of the two compartments; The areas in the back panel at either side of the openings left by the flaps 3!] and 3| serve as articleseparators, particularly when :-the carrier is made with carrying handles in theback: panels 29.

edgefiiof the end panel 261s extended to project ZThis lower edge 55 engages the edge fili of'the'" bottom panel H and prevents the compartment fromcollapsing of its own cause.-

The carrier illustrated -inthe drawingsds designed to have two compartments with eachl compartment containing-three pockets for accommodating individual articles.

:? attached thereto for carrying purposes. Anap-L handle is cut from paperboard or cthersuit'able so that it may be lowered when the carrier is notin use orforsta-cking filled carriers oneupon-the other, as illustrated in Fig. 10. It is a desideratu'm th'at the handle be'of suchform as to always I maintain a stable relationship with respect to the carrier, both-during use andduring sliding movenients-of the handle.

are assembled to the rear portions of theindividual compartments or wall sections.

An assembled handle is illustrated in Fig. 4-in' association with the wall section IS. The gripof the back panel 29'. The handle "has three lifting edges 63,- 54 and 55 which cocperate'with' edges 66; '61 and 68', respectively, of the back panel when the handle is slid outwardly for"sup'-' The lifting edges 63, 64" and-I porting purposes. 65and cooperating edges%, '67 and68prfn ide The-natural tendency of the'opened carrier-is to return to a collapsed condition, asshown in 25*. Figre. In order to prevent the collapsing of .the carrierwhenit is empty of articles, the newer Thecarrieeis useful for itslintended purposes in the form"in'- which. it has been described, 'and handle hole's" may be cut. in theblank, .or separate-handles" propriate handle is illustrated in Fig. T2," This" While one handle may suffree e for some uses, preferably separate handles ping portion 60,"the shank 62, and a small por-" tionof the supporting portion BI are located-in front of the upper rear section [8 and in front of-the back panel 29, and the greater portion of the supporting portion 61 is locatedtothe'rear rigid connection between the handle and the carrier for lifting purposes.

For guiding the handle for sliding in one line of travel, the handle is provided with three edges I0, H and 12 which engage the vertical edge 13 of the flap 24 and vertical edges 14 and 15 of the rear panel 29, respectively. The three sliding or guiding edges 10, H and 12 are located at the apices of a triangle and limit the movement of the handle in one line of travel in the plane of the handle.

The outline of the handle is such as to facilitate its assembly to the rear panel of a compartment of the carrier. It is provided with a notch 11 by which the handle can be hooked from the rear of the back panel 29 against the edge 66 and with the point 18 extending through the opening provided by the flap 3| to the front side of the upper rear section I8, as illustrated at the right of Fig. 4. With the handle associated in this manner it is rotated counterclockwise, Fig. 4, through the opening as illustrated in Fig. 5, with the slot I8 receiving the edge 14 of the rear panel and the gripping portion 60 and a portion of the shank 62 coming in front of the upper rear section I8 and the lower supporting portion 6| coming to the rear of the back panel 29 with the tab I9 to the rear of the back panel and the tab 80 slipping to the front of the back panel. The slot 8| dividing the two tabs 19 and 86 receives the edge 15. This step is illustrated in an advance stage in Fig. 5 and as completed in Fig. 6. In order to complete the effectiveness of the edges 10 and 13 for slide guiding purposes, the tab 83 is folded under the flap 24 and the tab 82 remains in back of the flap 24. The position of the tab' under the flap 24 is illustrated in Fig. 4. The gripping portion 60 is properly proportioned to permit its passage through the slit or opening 84, Fig. 7, in inserting the handle. The distance between the closed end of the notch 11 and the rounded edge 85 must be less than the longest dimension of the slit or opening 84.

the back panel coincide.

Furthermore, the distance of the closed end of the notch 11 from the bottom edge of the supporting portion 6! of the handle is equal to or less than the location of the upper edge of the flap 3| whereby to limit the inward sliding movement of; the bend to prevent extension of its lower edge beyond the lower edge of the back panel.

It is preferable that the handle be separately associated with the rear panels of the separate compartments so as to provide uniform support for the two compartments. The two handles will be located back to back but are so formed as not to interfere with each other should one handle be slidingly displaced with respect to the other handle. The points of the tabs 18 and 86 extend downwardly and the point of the tab 80 extends upwardly suflicient distances to always remain in front of the upper rear section l8, whatever position the handlemay be in with respect to the carrier. After the handles have been assembled,

the rear panels 29 of the two compartments may be stapled together or otherwise fastened at their viouslydescribed and best illustrated in Fig. 2." The lifting portion includes a notch I18"- whose inner end IH is adapted to engage the vertical edge 14 of the rear panel by which the handle is guided for vertical sliding. The lower edge I64 of the notch I18 is a supporting edge which engages with the edge 61 of the back panel for supporting the carrier by the handle. A second supporting edge I63 on tab is adapted to engage the edge 66 of the back panel. The inner edge I10 of the notch 9| and the inner edge I12 of the notch 92 engage the vertical edge '13 of the flap 24 and the vertical edge 15 of the back panel, respectively, whereby the handle is restricted to sliding movement. The three sets of cooperating sliding edges limit the sliding movement of the handle to travel in a line.

The handle is assembled in the same manner as previously described with reference to the handle illustrated in Fig. 2, by engaging the notch IT! in the opening provided by the flap 3| and rotating the handle counterclockwise until the center axis of the handle and the center axis of With the handle in this position, Fig. 13, the tab 90 extends over the back surface of the flap 24 andthe tab 93 bent to pass under the flap 24. The tab 94 extends to the rear of the back panel 29 and the tab 95 is caused to enter the opening formed by the flap 30 and extend to the front of the back panel 29. It will be observed from Fig. 13 that the handle can be slid only longitudinally of the central axis because of the guiding edges I70, Ill and I12, and their sliding engagement with edges 13, I4 and 1'5, respectively, of the back panel. The outermost extension of the handle is limited by the engagement of the edges I63 and 164 with the edges 66 and 61, respectively, of the back panel.

The handle may be made of the same material from which the carrier blankis prepared, and it' is to be understood that the handle has a gripping portion, a supporting portion and an intermediate connecting portion adapted to extend from in front of the back panel 26 through an opening to the rear of the back panel and having at least two guiding edges or areas for guiding the handle in one line of travel, and two supporting edges or areas for supporting the carrier from the handle, said guiding and supporting areas cooperating with edges of the opening in the back panel through which the connecting portion of the handle extends. The handles illustrated in Figs. 2 and 12 are obviously susceptible to other forms which will provide the supporting and sliding features referred to.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the specific description herein be deemed illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being had to the following claims rather than to the particular showing herein to indicate the scone of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A carrier for bottles or the like, saidcarrier being made of flexible sheet material and including a bottom panel and foldable wall sections connected to said bottom panel along crease lines at opposite edges of said bottom panel, each wall section including a front panel and two end panels and a back panel all connected together alone crease lines, an upper back section, inclined strips connected to the front panel and to the upper back section along crease lines, and flaps cut from said back panel and having crease 7 7 lines connecting vthe'fiaps to :the back panel, .individuarof said fiapsi beingfolded into'engaging relationshipfwith individual of said inclined strips;therespective hinge axes of said crease lines-oi? said flap being substantially coincident with the-respective hinge axes of said crease linesof saidinclined strips 'atsaid upper back section-and each-of said flaps extending from overlappingrelationship with one ofsaid inclined strips-to adjacent said bottompanel for separating articles-located at either sideof-an engaging inclined strip-andflameach of said foldable wall sectionsconstituting separate compartments over said bottom wall panel and with their respective back panels opposite one another and engaging flaps and inclined strips subdividing each compartment vforspacing adjacent articles in the compartments from each other.

2.. 'A carrier forbottles or the like, said carrier ,being madeiofr flexible sheet material and including a bottom panel and foldable wall sectionsnonnected to saidbottom panel along crease lines at opposite edges of said bottom panel, each ,wall section including a front panel and two end panels :and a back panel all connected together along crease lines, an upper back section, inclined strips "connectedto thefront panel and-to the upper back section along crease lines, at least one of said'back panels having a vertically extendingopening, each of said foldable wall sections constituting separate compartments over said bottom wall panel and with their respective backpanelsopposite one another, a substantially planar handle-piece of sheet material for carrying said carrier,-said handle-piece being slid- ,able with respect to the back panel of one'of said compartments and having a portion thereof inifront'o'f. said back panel and a portion thereof in back=of saidback panel and an intermediate portionconnecting said first and second-named portions and extending through said openin in saidsbackpanel, said handle-piece having shoulden-means for engaging the upper extremity 'of said opening when the-handle is drawn outwardly to-its "extended position, and mean on said handle-piece cooperating with the edges of said openings for slidingly guiding the handle-piece for-"movement parallel to said back panel and to and from its extended position.

3'. A=carrer for'bottles or the like, said carrier being madeof flexible sheet material'and' including abottom panel and foldable wall sections connected to said bottom panel along crease linesat opposite edges of said bottom panel, each wall section including a front panel and two end panels and a back panel all connected together along crease lines, an upper back sectioninclined strips connected to the front panel and to theupper'back section along crease lines, flaps cut-from said=back panel and having crease lines conne'ctingithe flaps to the back panel and leav- =ing openings in the back panel, each'of said foldable wall sections constituting separate compartments over said bottom wall panel and with their respective back panels opposite one another, a substantially planar handle-piece t sheetmaterial 'for carrying said carrier, said handle-piecebeing slidable with respect to said backpanels and having a portion thereof in front of onset said back panels and extending through one of "the openings provided by the flaps in 'saidwback panel to the-back of said back panel and having shoulder means for engaging the .upperrextremityfofsaid opening when the handle- :piece: is .:-drawn*outward1y. to its extended" position, and means on said handle-piece cooperating with side edges of at-least vtwo'of the openings provided by said flaps for guiding thehand-lepiece in a lineal directionof movement.

4: Acarrier for bottles or the'like, said carrier being made of flexible sheet material and including a bottom panel and foldable :wall sections connected to said bottom panel along'crease lines at opposite edges of said bottom panel; each wall section including a front panel and'two end panels and a back panel all connected-together along --crease lines, an upper back sectiom-inclined' strips connected to the-front panel and to the upper back section along crease lines, each of said back panels having vertically extending openings spaced fromeach"other-,=each of said foldable' wall sections constituting separate compartments over said bottom wall panel and 'with their respective back panels opposite one another,

a handle-piece for each of--said back panels,

each of said handle-pieces being slidablewith respect to its related back panel and toeach other, each handle-piece having a portion thereof infront of its related back panel and'extendi'ng through an opening provided by one of said vertically extending openings in the back panel to the back of the 'back'panel and having shoulders -forengaging the upper extremities-ofsaidopening when the handle is drawnoutwardly' to its extended position, said handle-pieces being constructed and arranged withthe portions of the respective handle-pieces Which extend to; the backs of their respective back-panels always at least partially overlapping one another in "any position of onehandle-piece with respect to the other handle piece so either handle-piece can-be slid with-respect-to the other withoutin-terference.

5. A' carrier for bottles-and'the like'havi-ng a bottom panel and a foldable -wall-section connected to the bottom panelandproviding back, frontand end'walls and strips between individual pockets; said back having at least one vertically extendingopening, and a substantially planar handle member of sheet material having parallel edges for'slidinglyengaging vertical edge areas'of said opening for guiding movement of the handle in a line of travel'between a retracted position parallel and adjacent to said backand an extended position in its own plane, said handle member havin edge portions extending laterally for engaging, laterally extending edge portions 'of'said opening for limiting the-"extent'of sliding movement of said handle with respect-to the back panel.

v6. A carrier for bottles and-the like having a bottom panel and a foldable wall section'connected to the bottom panel and providing aback panel, and front and end walls and inclined strips between individual pockets and'in which flaps are provided extending from-the'back'panel and folding adjacent to' the inclined strips-and leaving openings with vertical edges in the back panel, and a substantially planar-handlemember of sheet material having paralleledge'sior slidingly engaging vertical edge areas-ofone'of saidopenings left in the back panel for guiding movement of the handleina line-of travel-between a retracted position parallel and adjacent to said back panel andan extendedpositionin it own plane, said 'handle member having edge portions extending laterally for engaging later-'- ally extending edge-portions of said opening-for limiting the extent of I sliding movement or said handle with-respect to:the:backpanel. I

7. A bottle carrier blank cut and creased to form a bottom panel and foldable wall sections connected to said bottom panel along crease lines, each wall section including a front panel, two end panels and a back panel all connected together along crease lines, and an upper back section, inclined strips connected to the front panel and to theupper back section along crease lines, said back panel having flaps cut therein with crease lines spaced apart substantially equal to the spacing of said crease lines connecting said inclined strips with said upper back section thereby to lie contiguous to the crease lines connecting the inclined strips with said upper back section when the blank is formed into a carrier, each of said flaps extending substantially from the lower edge of said back panel to a straight line substantially parallel to said lower edge of said back panel and located between lower and upper edges of said inclined strips so that when said blank and said flaps are folded along their respective crease lines, the flaps will divide pockets for individual bottles in the carrier thereby formed and constitute separators together with the inclined strips.

8. A bottle carrier blank cut and creased to form a bottom panel and foldable wall sections connected to said bottom panel along crease lines, each wall section including a front panel, an end panel conected to each end of said front panel, a back panel substantially commensurate in width to the width of said front panel and connected to one of said end panels, an upper back section, and inclined strips connected to the front panel and to the upper back section along crease lines, each of said back panels having flaps cut therein with crease lines spaced at intervals substantially equal to the interval between the crease lines connecting the inclined strips to the upper back section so as to permit bending of said flaps into engagement with said inclined strips to separate adjacent articles located at either side of said inclined strips when said blank is formed into a carrier, the crease lines of said flaps being longer than the crease lines between lines at the ends of each inclined strip at saidupper back section being spaced substantially equal to the spacing of the crease lines of adjacent inclined strips on the front panel, flaps cut from the back panel and having crease lines connecting the flaps to said back panel, the crease lines of said flaps being spaced substantially equal to the spacing of the crease lines of adjacent inclined strips on said upper back section, and the width of each flap being at least equal to onehalf of the spacing of the crease lines of adjacent inclined strips on the back section, the flaps and the crease lines of said flaps being longer than the crease lines of said inclined strips at said upper back section so that said flaps will extended below the strips and provide separators for articles when said blank and flaps are folded along their respective crease lines.

MARGARET W. KEITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Lighter Dec. 26, 1950 

